Sanaa: At least 13 Al Qaeda militants and 10 soldiers were killed when the militants launched an attack on military troops in Yemen on Sunday, army officers said. The attack took place in the southern province of Abyan. Dozens were injured from both sides, the officers told a news agency.

Clashes were still going on in various parts of the al-Qaeda-seized Zinjibar city.

Fierce battles erupted late on Friday between al-Qaeda militants and troops of the 25th Mechanised Brigade stationed in the outskirts of Zinjibar, More than 50 soldiers have been taken as hostages, they said.